INow·
CEO NOW What do you do when your hands are cold … rub them It is not a secret that many independently owned sporting together? you create helpful, goods retailers and dealersThat havefriction been under siegeisover the right? last several years. We have all experienced our share of friction over
NSGA OFFICERS Chairman of the Board NSGA OFFICERS Pat Donnelley Chairman of the BoardTwin Falls, ID Donnelley Sports,
past severalthinking months.it's Significant weather events, Consumers turn the to the internet, a better option for their purchases. The labor marketwhich is increasingly tight. a global pandemic, has altered lives in ways Manufacturers try to could go directly the consumer andwith narrow few have to imagined, combined civil unrest their distribution of products. and political strife has made for one of the most
David Labbe
Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME Treasurer/Chairman-Elect Greg Miller Treasurer/Chairman-Elect Universal Athletic, Bozeman, MT Cathy Pryor Hibbett Sports, Birmingham, AL
Past Chairman Past Chairman David Labbe Randy Nill Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME
Nill Bros. Sporting Goods, Kansas City, KS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kevin Bezanson BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cleve’s Source for Sports, Kevin Bezanson Halifax, Nova Cleve's Source for Scotia, Sports, Canada Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Rhett Johnson Pat Donnelley Co.,Raleigh,NC Johnson-Lambe
Donnelley Sports, Twin Falls, ID
David Lynn Rhett Johnson Dunham’s Sports, Troy, MI Johnson-Lambe Co., Raleigh, NC Jeff Miller Greg Miller Scholastic SportsSales,Ltd.,Manlius,NY Universal Athletic, Bozeman, MT Mick Montgomery Jeff Miller Denver AthleticSupply,Englewood,CO Scholastic Sports Sales, Ltd., Manlius, NY Ron Rugal John Oehler Goods,ShelbyCharter B&RSporting Dunham's Sports, Troy, Ml Township, MI Jerry Williams Jerry Williams Schuylkill SchuylkillValley ValleySports, Sports,Pottstown, Pottstown,PA PA NSGA NSGATEAM TEAMLEADERS LEADERS Matt Carlson Matt Carlson President & CEO President & CEO Marty Maciaszek Marty Dealer Maciaszek Team Division, Director, Team Dealer Division and HDA Communications and HDA Julie Pitts Julie Pitts Director, Business Development and Research Director, Public Affairs and President, NSSRA Larry Weindruch Director, Public Affairs Nick Rigitano Director, Insights and Analysis Dan Wiersma Chief Financial Jennifer ShafferOfficer Comptroller
challenging times in our independent history. Those are a few of the biggest challenges retailers and dealers face. The effects are evident throughout the industry as struggling We do not have the luxuryatof saying, “I’ll just go businesses consolidate or close their doors entirely. Our colleagues NSGA's benchmark about my business because none of this affects associations, the American Booksellers Association and the North American Retail Hardware Association, echo those concerns, but none of is throwing in thewho towel! me.” Especially forusbusiness owners have been significantly impacted by these situations. We always search for ways to help our core members in their ongoing battle to succeed. Our new 'Verified Independent Dealer The Program" hitsfriction, the bullseye. The idea for the level of particularly caused by COVID, program was sparked by a group of NSGA-member team dealers who wanted to varies as we hear from different segments of the sporting goods industry in different locations. emphasize how their experience, knowledge and service differentiates them from Retailers with an emphasis on individualized sports and activities such as golf, biking, tennis their competition. or running may find their challenge is meeting larger-than-normal customer needs for those Getting the public to understand the may importance working a quality reduced independent products. In some states, a team dealer face the of dilemma of with a significantly demand dealer is one of the critical components to the NSGA Verified Independent Dealer from schools and programs because team sports are still in shutdown mode. Supply chains Program. NSGA will assist Verified Dealers by sharing and explaining what it means to be have been disrupted; leading to more friction. partdefinitely of this program with theirall current and potential customers. Friction can be reduced by a trio of “Ps” which entrepreneur, TV personality and Camping World The details about the criteria for the MVP and All-Star CEO Marcus of Lemonis callsVerified his “3 Ps of Business”Dealer — People, Process and Product. Having the categories the NSGA Independent Program, along with applications important right people on your teamand willother help you executeinformation, your operational process in the most efficient can bepossible. found atThis www.nsga.org/verified. You can also read and diversify your product lines. manner will also give you the opportunity to expand more about it on page 22 of this edition of NSGA NOW. We Lemonis suggests you “try to take a few moments eachretailers day to step back from all the activity encourage teamthat dealers, full-line retailers and specialty involved hockey,perspective. skiing, running sports toon apply. and take a in different Howand wellother are you doing the 3Ps of business?” That may not seem feasible with the daily demands of running a business. Yet it could go a long way toward Another benefit of the NSGA Verified Independent Dealer Program will be programming helping compete business and reduce some sources friction. Annual Team Dealer Annual Management Conference & 21 st of for theyou group at the for 55thnew Summit. This will be an excellent opportunity for verified dealers to get together and Our mission at NSGA is to help ease the friction as well, and we will continue to support you share ideas and concerns with their peers. through all these challenging times. Lemonis encourages us to take a different perspective. The Management Dealer Summit May 19-21 Braselton, Although we have toConference work harder&atTeam it, maybe a better wayheld of looking at theinfriction is to convert is right around the corner. Some of best aspects of you the sporting goods it Georgia, to something useful … heat on the hands, sothe to speak. How can transfer the heat from industry's premier event are illustrated on page 11 of this issue. Register now by the friction to fuel your business? completing the form in the magazine, or, online at www.nsga.org/events. We hope everyone had a happy holiday season with family and friends and that you closed out 2018 on a high note. Don't forget that NSGA is here to support you in making Best regards, 2019 even Fight the good fightl Matt Carlsonbetter! | President & CEO Best regards, Matt Carlson I President & CEO
NSGA works with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to keep you informed on important news and rule changes.
NSGA NOW® (ISSN 1045-2087) is published bi-monthly for members of the National Sporting Goods Association, 1601 Feehanville Dr., Suite 300, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6035; Phone: (847) 296-NSGA (6742); Fax: (847) 391-9827. Subscription price of $50 per year is included in membership fee. Non-member subscription information available from publisher. Periodical postage paid at Mount Prospect, IL 60056 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NSGA NOW,® NSGA NOW (ISSN 1045-2087) is published bi-monthly for members of the National Sporting Goods Association, 3041 Woodcreek Drive, Suite 210, Downers Grove, IL 1601 Feehanville Dr., Suite 300, Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6035. © by NSGA 2019. Printed in the USA. 60515. Phone: (847) 296-NSGA (6742); Fax: (847) 391-9827. Subscription price of $50 per year is included in membership fee. Non-member subscription information available from publisher. Periodical postage paid at Downers Grove, IL 60515 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NSGA NOW,® 3041 Woodcreek Drive, Suite 210, Downers Grove, IL 60515. © NSGA 2021 all rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
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